'Violin Scam' to Come to Trial

An Israeli conductor and his violinist wife were indicted today (Monday) by the Haifa Magistrates Court for fraudulently representing themselves as investment managers who dealt in valuable antique violins.

The indictment alleges the two received huge sums of money from the people they swindled, mostly cash, by telling them they would be able to invest it by acquiring the expensive, antique musical instruments for them. The indictment includes charges of fraud, aggravated theft, forgery, amongst others, in at least eight cases between the years 2007-2010.

In order to gain the confidence of their victims, the couple used to put on a show of wealth and an extravagant life style, inviting them to concerts they would host in their Haifa home.